Samurai at the Asian Art Museum

When did June become such a busy month of blockbusters? Aren’t we all supposed to be toe-deep in the sand, reveling in the bliss of summer sloth?

Apparently not. As the culturati dished out endless dollops of tantalizing invites last month: Samurai at the Asian Art Museum, Tut at the de Young, Gordon Getty at the SF Conservatory of Music. And the indefatigable and stylish Charlotte Mailliard Shultz hosting a round of private parties with great panache.

First up? The opening-night gala for the Lords of the Samurai: The Legacy of a Daimyo Family exhibition (through Sept. 12) at the Asian Art Museum.

Michael Kim and his wife, Letitia Todd Kim, served as Samurai Gala co-chairs for this sold-out crowd of almost 400 supporters who raised some $200K for the Asian’s arts and education programs.

“We actually had to turn people away,” said Michael Kim, disappointed they could not fit more folks into to the museum.

However, Kim was still excited to see this stellar show (co-organized by Asian Art Museum Curator Yoko Woodson) that features 160 exquisite Samurai objets from the private family collection of former Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa.

“The Samurai were often very poor but lived their life by the code of Bushido,” explained Kim. “These warriors were also very artistic and created beautiful poetry and paintings.”

Much of the ornate and heavy (55-lbs-plus) armor worn by the Samurai will look familiar even to the casual viewer as, at first glance, they appear to be of a more recent, big-screen vintage.

“George Lucas was very much inspired by the Samurai and I love this exhibit because I’m a huge Star Wars fan!” said Kim, with a laugh.

Because of the origins of this exhibition, there was much protocol (a traditional Sake ceremony to kick-off the party) for the Honorary VIP co-chairs: The Hon. Morihiro Hosokawa; the Hon. Michael Armacost (former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and a Fellow at Stanford University’s Institute for International Studies) and the Hon. Yasumasa Nagamine (Consul General of Japan) and the Hon. George Shultz (former Secretary of State).

There was also many beautiful gowns and traditional costumes in attendance, too. Akiko Yamazaki went modern in a gorgeous Colleen Quen Asian-inspired top coat. And Judy Wilbur (a linchpin of the Asian’s new building and whose family co-founded The Asia Foundation) wore a resplendent kimono presented to her late mother-in-law, Dita Wilbur, during Dita’s many trips there with the family’s import-export business.

“She would be very pleased to know that this robe had made its way out of the closet,” laughed Wilbur.

“There are two things we’re very proud of at the Asian Art Museum,” said Doll. “One, we throw the best parties! And two, we give the shortest speeches!”

However due to a crowded roster of exalted personages and a translator for the Prime Minister, this was not quite the case. But guests were, nonetheless, fascinated.

“Some guests have remarked tonight on how much the Samurai resemble Darth Vader,” said Asian Art Museum Director Jay Xu. “To which I must correct them and say, Darth Vader looks like the Samurai!”

The ebullient Xu went on to explain that the exhibition represented 700 years and 18 generations of the Hosokawa family -- one of the most prominent Samurai clans in the history of Japan.

“We are honored to host this collection which tells of the long history and artistic achievements of the Hosokawa family and Japanese culture at large,” said Xu. “This exhibition is the first time such a collection has been presented in such a complete manner, anywhere in the world.”

Hosokawa, himself an acclaimed tea practitioner as well as a skilled calligrapher, explained to the crowd that among all the Daimyo collections in Japan, his family’s is noted because of its dedication to culture and literature: “In Samurai culture, one of the highest ideals is to wield both the sword and the brush.”

Next up was our new favorite event speaker, Union Bank President Masaaki Tanaka who served as Lead Corporate Sponsor of the event. Honestly? This charming and well-spoken man should be booked at every event.

“It would be very easy to think of the art in this collection as nothing more than a remembrance of history,” said Tanaka. “But the history of this exhibition is important because it shows a way of life as rare now as it was 100 years ago.”